Truss



(N0 Mode l.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'B. BANNISTER.

TRUSS.

N0. 429,556. Patented JunejB, 1890.

WITNESSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

. B. BAN'NISTER.

muss.

Patented June 3 1890.

ETERS c0, Moro-1.1mm, wAsHmnToN, n c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURR. BANNISTER, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,556, dated June 3, 1890.

Application filed September 18, 1839. Serial No. 324,288. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BURR. BANNISTER, a citi-' zen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Truss-Pads; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class'of trusspads especially intended for the retention of hernia; and my object is to produce a simple, cheap, and durable device for more perfectly adjusting the pad to the parts affected.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the peculiar features and combination of parts, more fullydescribed hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of my complete invention; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the position of the pad when the adjustment of the washer is reversed; Fig. 3, an end view in which the larger side of the cam is turned at right angles to the longest diameter of the pad. Figs. 4: and 5 represent detail views of the cam and volute spring, respectively; Fig. 6, a top view, and Fig. 7 a sectional view of a modification.

The reference-letter a denotes the main body portion of the pad, which is by preference given the usual oval or eliptical form. A plate I) is located within the'pad and is fastened down upon the posts 0 by means of screws (Z. The pad is secured -to the supporting-arm e by means of an adj ustable screw f, which enters an internally-threaded shank provided with a head h. This head is held up in contact with its socket t' in the under side of the seat by means of a volute spring j, surrounding said shank and screws. The head and socket form a pivotal or universal joint and allow the pad to be set at any desired angle of inclination upon the wearer. The lower end of the springpresses upon the ledge it within an adjusting washer or cam Z, while its upper end bears against the free end of the supporting-arm e.

In order to give the pad any desired adj ustment upon the person of the wearer, the bottom of the washer or cam is allowed a free rotary movement upon the top of the seat I), and is retained in place by the annular bead m, which surrounds it. One of the principal characteristics of this washer or cam is its lower end, which is hoof-shaped, so that the plane of its bearing-surface upon the plate I) will be oblique to its axis, thereby giving thewasher the action of an eccentric cam around the pivotal connection. The adjusting-screw f, which passes through the center of the cam Z, is provided with a head f and bail g',which enables the wearer to increase or diminish the pressure of the pad against the parts affeoted by simply turning the screw to the right or left.

In addition to the means for facilitating the fixed adjustment of the pad the spring permits the pad to have a yielding pressure upon the body of the wearer, because it is interposed between theadjusting-washer and free end of the supporting-arm. By this arrangement the pad will always be held snugly against the hernia when the motions of the body change the position of the supportingarm. This spring, however, is not an absolutely essential element, as it may be dispensed with when a hard pad only is required.

Although a socket-joint has been shown as the preferred way of connecting the supporting-arm with the pad, yet any other suitable pivotal connection which will admit of free universal movement to respond to the action of the adjusting-washer could be employed.

The preferred mode of constructing my device having'been set forth, I will now proceed to describe its operation. In fitting the pad to the person of the wearer it is first placed over the hernia and the adjusting-screw loosened. Then by simply giving the adjustingwasher Z a half-turn to the right with the fingers the upper end of the pad will be tilted inward, as shown-in Fig. 2. By reversing the position ofthe washer the opposite effect will ensue, and the upper end of the pad will be tilted outward while its lower portion is forced inward, as shown in'Fig. 1. The-top of the plate I) is provided with a dial '1', which surrounds the cam, and the latter is provided with a pointer or mark .9, which points to the divisions in the dial, thereby enabling the wearer to note the exact position ofthe pad, so that it can be readjusted shonldit become disordered. If it is desired to tilt the pad laterally to more perfectly resist the hernia, the adjusting-washer can be turned to the position shown in Fig. 3, or the pad can be readily adjusted to any intermediate positions by simply turning the washer upon its seat until the required adjustment is attained. In the adjusting operation the upper portion of sleeve 13 of the washer is milled and serves as a handle. The ball-and-soeket joint permits the pad to have a free universal move ment, and the adjusting-washer enables the wearer to set it at any desired angle of inclination; hence it will be seen that the adj usting-washer acts as an eccentric cam, and the degree of adjustment can be reduced to the finest point. If from any cause the pad should get out of adjustment after it has been carefully set, it can be quickly restored to its original position by bringing the point 3 around to the predetermined point upon the dial. Thus a person can make a note of the precise degree of: inclination, and can always restore the pad to its former position when desired.

Among the advantages my invention pos sesses over the pads heretofore in vogue might be mentioned the fact that the spring and ball-joint are covered, so as not to become caught upon the wearers clothing. The pad can be adjusted without the removal of any of its parts, but by simply turning the washer with the fingers while the pad is upon the person. i

In Fig. 7 the adjusting mechanism is represented as applied to the spring which passes around the body, instead of being applied directly to the pad.

It is evident that many slight changes which might suggest themselves to a skilled mechanic could be resorted to without departing from the scope and spirit of my invention. Therefore I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described.

llaviugth us described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a truss-pad, an eccentric cam or washer, in combination with a supporting device, substantially as described.

2. In a truss-pad, a washer provided with a bearing-surface oblique to its axis, in con1bination with a universal joint, adjusting screw, and spring, all arranged and adapted to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

3. In combination with a truss-pad and its supporting'arm, a washer or cam provided with a bearing-surface arranged obliquely to its axis, and a pivotal connection passing through said washer or cam, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In'a truss-pad, an adjusting device, substantially as described, provided with a pointer or mark, in combination with a plate having a dial upon its face, whereby the exact adjustment of the pad can be noted, in the manner and for the purpose described.

Signed at Kalamazoo,in the county of Kalamazoo, State of: Michigan, this 24th day of June, 1889.

BURR. .BANNISTER.

In presence of- R. G. IDUBoIs, T. F. GIDDINGS. 

